New Customers: Setting up Credit Card Processing through the Software

Note: Setting up credit card processing through the software is generally a one-time process.If you are a returning customer, click here for instructions on migrating your previous credit card settings to a new event site. Once migrated, you can review and edit the non-gateway settings such as offset fees and language.

When using the SchoolAuction.net software, you have a wide range of choices regarding credit-card processing:

If you don't have an existing merchant account, the easiest and fastest way to get started is by using the WePay processing service. You can be processing transactions within 5 minutes, and it has no setup, annual, monthly, or statement fees. The rate for this service is 3.25%, plus $0.30/transaction.

Use your existing merchant account with Authorize.net. If you don't already have an internet payment gateway account, we can help you set up an Authorize.net account (works with most full-service merchant accounts).

Use your existing credit card processing with one of our other (9) fully-supported gateways.

If you want to shop around, you can contact any of our Preferred Providers, or your bank, for quotes.

You may also use Square (or another smartphone-based solution) alongside our software, but you will only be able to process payments in person, at check-out.

The WePay option has no signup fee, no annual fee, no monthly fees. You can signup for it by answering 4 questions, and be accepting transactions within 5 minutes. The processing rate is 3.25% + $0.30/transaction (and you can ask you supporters to cover the fees!)

NOTE: You can start processing transactions immediately, but there is a follow-up step: you have to tell WePay where to send your money. You’ll get an email with the instructions for doing so; please look for it and confirm your account right away - you won’t actually receive your funds until you do.

Option 2: Use an existing merchant account with Authorize.net (Plus/Premium)

If you already have an active, full-service, commercial merchant account (the kind you get from your bank), there is an excellent chance that you can use it with our software. Please note that your account must be able to accept e-commerce transactions. If it is “retail only” it won’t support the card storage at check-in, payment for online registration, or self check-out functions that are central to running a smooth easy check-out at your auction.

You will connect our software to your bank’s servers through a third-party service called an Internet Payment Gateway. These services provide a security function for the processors, who otherwise do not connect to Internet-based services. The most common gateway in the US is Authorize.net; we support and recommend this gateway.

Option 4: Shop Around (Plus/Premium only)

At http://www.schoolauction.net/partners we keep a list of companies (with contact info) that would like to provide your group with compatible credit-card processing accounts. These companies cannot buy their way onto our list; they are companies that we know to provide low-cost accounts and excellent service.

If you are a Plus or Premium customer, and want to shop around, start with this list. They can quickly provide you with a quote. Just let them know you are using our software - they understand what you will need.

If you want to work with your bank, call your account rep and ask them to set you up with a credit-card processing account that you can use for e-commerce processing from your auction website. They will probably ask what website software or shopping cart you will be using, tell them Authorize.net. (SchoolAuction.net is too small of a company to appear on their list of known and approved software companies, but that’s okay, they are primarily concerned with the security functions that the gateway handles.)

Make sure that they either set you up with an Authorize.net account** , OR send you the VAR sheet that you can use to set up an Authorize.net account. When you get that, email it to cardservices@schoolauction.net and we will take it from there.

**Be sure you get a "brand-name" Authorize.net account as Authorize.net "compatible" gateways are NOT compatible with our software.

Your bank may have offered you a terminal to use for processing cards at your event.

Or, you may have an iPhone and a Square card-reader, and thus assume that you are covered.

Or, you may have a PayPal account, and want to use that.

The good news is that if any of those situations describes you, you do indeed have the capability to submit transactions for processing. And you certainly can choose to use those alongside our software. However, those are stand-alone solutions, and they do not talk to our software. So you will only be able to process credit card charges in-person.

You will NOT be able to:

1. Accept credit card payments online for:

Ticket sales

Online auction

Online donation page

Self check-out

2. Utilize Advance Check-in

3. Store credit cards for later transactions by vaulting:

during Ticket sales

prior to Online Bidding

at Check-in

at Check-out

You can preview how these "external" transactions would be recorded within the software here.